Toy.



' No. 731,299. PATENTED JUNE 16, 1903.

, 0. P. HALE.

TOY.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 26, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

UNITED; STATES:

Patented Jun'e 1c, 1903-.

PATENT @FFICE.

OSCAR F. HALE, OF POOAHONTAS, IOWA, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND LEWIS E.STREATER, OF POOAHONTAS, IOWA.

TOY.

SPECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 731,299, dated June 16,1903. Application filed March 26, 1903. Serial No. 149,673. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, OSCAR F. HALE, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of Pocahontas, in the county of Pocahontas and State of Iowa,have invented a new and Improved Toy, ofwhich the following is a full,

clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to a toy of that class in which a jointed figureis suspended so that by operating the toy the figure may be made toperform movements resembling the antics and dance of a clown or otherperformer.

The present invention resides in a novel manner of sustaining the clownin. upright position and in the peculiar arrangement of these parts inconnection with a spring-board on which the clown stands and which isvibrated to produce the desired movements of the clown.

This specification is an exact description of two examples of myinvention, while the claims define the actual scope thereof.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the invention. Fig. 2 is alongitudinal section showing the clown in elevation. Fig. 3 is anelevation of one of the eccentric holders for the supporting twineorcord. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view showing the manner of engagingthe arms with the twine or cord, and Fig. 5 is a view illustratingaslight modification for effecting the engagement shown in Fig. 4.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4:, the device comprises a base formed of rigidside rails a, between which at one end is secured the rigid part b ofthe. spring-board b. This springboard is preferably provided With a pad0 on its upper surface,which is employed to deaden the sound of theblows or taps struck thereon as will be hereinafter fully explained.From the rigid side portions a of the base an arch d projects upward,said arch being formed of spring material for a purpose which willhere'- inafter'appear. The clown or other figure, as here illustrated,comprises a trunk e, jointed legs e, and jointed arms e The arms 6 areformed with enlarged extremities e simulating the hands of the clown,and said extremities are engaged at several difierent points with tworunsfof the supporting-cord. In order to keep the arms 6 spaced apart,one of the runs of said cord is turned or lapped around the hands a asshown best in Fig. 4. Said cord fis connected at its ends, so as to forman endless connection, and this is passed around eccentric holders g,said holders being mounted to turn around the respective sides of thearch d and being friction-tight thereon, so that they may be adjusted toany elevation desired.

In the use of the invention the parts are adjusted as in Fig. 2, so thatthe two runs of the cord f stand vertically one over the other at thepoints of contact with the hands, making a one-quarter twist in thecord, after which the holders 9 are turned outward from the sides of thearch d, so as to exert the necessary tension on the cord. The cord thusstrained Will tend to untwist itself, and the parts should be sodisposed that this untwisting tendency will be exerted on the clown,thus supporting the clown in the position shown in Fig. 2 with ayielding or springing effect. By striking the springboard 6 with onehand or with any desired instrument the vibrations of the board will beimparted to the clown and the figure will be given rapid and complicatedmovements closely resembling the movements of an athlete or dancer. Bystriking theboard in a certain musical time-for example, in the time ofjig-dance music-the figure will be caused closely to simulate the dancemusic. The pad 0 is provided to deaden the noise of the blows if they bestruck with a tool, and, if desired, a sort of hammer may be provided,having a rubber head, which will impart additional resiliency to thespring-board.

The modification shown in Fig. 5 consists in the application ofverticallyextending bars h to the hands '6 of the figure, these barshaving eyes in their'ends to engage the runs in the cordf. Thisconstruction enables the hand of the figure to be constructed in a formmore nearly approaching the natural human hand than that shown in Fig.4.. The spring sides of the arch d give and take under the action of theeccentric holders g and maintain at all times the necessary tension onthe cord f.

Various changes in the form, proportions, and minor details of myinvention may be resorted to at will without departing from the spiritand scope thereof. Hence I consider myself entitled to all suchvariations as may lie within the intent of my claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- I 1. A toy, comprising a figure having arms and legs,means engaged with the arms for yieldingly holding the toy in uprightposition, and a vibratory member coactiug-with the legs of the figure,said means for holding the toy in upright position comprising a cordunder tension and having two runs engaged with the hands of the figureat different points.

2. A toy, comprising a figure, and a yielding or resilient supporttherefor, comprising a cord under tension and having two runs engagedwith the figure at different points.

3. A toy, comprising afigure, a yielding or resilient support therefor,comprising a cord under tension and having two runs engaged with thefigure at different points, and a vi bratory member coacting with thefigure.

4. A toy, comprisinga supporting member, eccentric holders adjustablymounted thereon, an endless cord passed over said holders, and a figuresupported from the cord.

5. A toy, comprising a supporting member, eccentric holders adjustablymounted thereon, an endless cord passed over said holders, a figuresupported from the cord, and a vibratory member coacting with thefigure.

6. A toy, comprising a supporting member, eccentric holders adj ustablymounted thereon,. an endless cord passed over said holders, a figurehaving jointed legs and arms, the arms being engaged with two runs ofthe cord atdifferent points, and a vibratory member coacting with thelegs of the figure.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

OSCAR F. HALE.

Witnesses:

L. E. STREATER, O. S. FERGUSON.

